With Mario Kart World drifting to the Nintendo Switch 2 in just two months, the 3D racing game is at the forefront of everyone’s minds. The franchise is among Nintendo’s most successful; the Wii U’s Mario Kart 8 and the DLC-loaded Mario Kart 8 Deluxe are No. 2 on the brand’s bestsellers list, with more than 75 million copies sold between the two since the former skrrrt‘d to shelves in May 2014.
We’ve got a little over 60 sleeps ’til we can (hopefully) meander through “Moo Moo Meadows” again. In the meantime, we ranked every Mario Kart entry Nintendo has released to home consoles. Check out our list, which starts with our least fave at No. 10 and counts to the best at No. 1. We didn’t rank mobile or arcade games; this list explores only the franchise’s 10 main entries.
Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit (2020; Switch)
Cute in theory, but harder to pull off when put into practice. Instead of the standard Mario Kart requirements — home console, game cartridge or download, and unwavering tenacity — Home Circuit players must also convert their entire living space into an immersive course. Cost, limited replayability, and the hassle of plastic pieces aside, I shouldn’t have to double-check my square footage to make sure my house is large enough to play Mario Kart successfully. If you’ve got pets, just forget about it.
Mario Kart: Super Circuit (2001; Game Boy Advance)
The franchise has come a long way since its first handheld entry. My beef with Super Circuit pertains to playability above all else; the Game Boy Advance required add-on devices like malleable lamps to illuminate the dark screen. Handheld consoles promote on-the-go gaming, but when a single sunray can render your display unusable, I might as well just stick with a home console. If you’re in a well-lit room, Super Circuit will feel like playing the N64 title on a three-inch screen. Take it anywhere else, though, and you’re toast.
Super Mario Kart (1992; SNES)
Baby’s First Mario Kart! The world was introduced to Nintendo‘s now-classic in the early 90s, and much like a successful television show’s pilot episode or first season, it didn’t quite find its footing until later. Granted, we wouldn’t have what we now know as one of the world’s greatest racing game franchises without the inaugural entry. This one still holds up, but handling remains a challenge. To a seasoned kart racer, the game’s now-primitive controls are too simple. Modern players will surely miss the competitive edge of a clean drift and the catharsis of sniping opponents with blue shells.
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Mario Kart 64 (1996; N64)
The franchise’s first 3D entry is an unquestionable fan favorite, but let’s be frank: Mario Kart 64’s cult following is more the result of millennial and Gen X nostalgia than quality gameplay. Every kart is a hard-to-handle hazard; no matter how successfully you’re steering, drifting, braking, or slinging shells, you’re sure to slip into the nearest body of water when you least expect it. Admittedly, the N64 controller is less than ideal for such a challenging and competitive title — especially a racing game. Players are less likely to burst a blood vessel by revisiting some of their favorite courses on 8 Deluxe.
Mario Kart 8 (2014; Wii U)
It’s hard to believe Deluxe is supposed to be an expanded version of the 2014 title when the two feel like completely different games. With Deluxe bursting at the seams with nostalgic and new content, MK8 seems more of an appetizer than a main course. Once you’ve played Deluxe, this game no longer exists. Upon release, the game’s antigravity element was novel and neat. However, Deluxe‘s continued updates eliminated any chance of replayability.
Mario Kart DS (2005; DS)
Not sure why the DS ever needed motion controls, but we got ’em. In Mario Kart DS, clumsy kids playing in the backseat of their parents’ SUV got to unreliably “steer” their kart as dad hit every bump or pothole. We also got the dreaded ink-spraying Blooper hazard, which still infuriates racers today on 8 Deluxe. Positive changes, though, included its ability to link gamers using the handheld’s special Friend Codes. Players could also create custom cosmetics for their kart using the in-game paint tool.
Mario Kart 7 (2011; 3DS)
2011’s Mario Kart 7 is the first time racers see coins again since Super Mario Kart in ’92. Oh, how I love you, coin boost! The return of coins was one of few classic elements the game stuck with; 7 introduced more aerodynamic karts, adding hang-gliding capabilities, crazy airtime, and newly-customizable karts that made it feel more like a serious racer. Instead of your character’s old clunker, players can tailor their vehicle’s body to suit both control and cosmetic preferences.
Mario Kart Wii (2008; Wii)
Mario meets motion controls with 2008’s Mario Kart Wii. Click your clunky WiiMote into the plastic steering wheel to feel closer to your character than ever before. Even though Mario Kart Wii was released 12 years prior to Home Circuit, it manages to walk (or drive) circles around the 2020 release — at least as far as immersion and realism go. This was also the first time the franchise linked racers ’round the world with its global online gameplay. Gamers also got their hands on bikes for the first time, which, when coupled with the steering wheel, could’ve generated enough adrenaline to power the console electricity-free.
Mario Kart: Double Dash (2003; GameCube)
Double Dash magically harnessed all the chaos, charm, and camaraderie of that 2v2 Mario Party bobsled minigame “Bobsled Run” and ran with it. A true test of friendship, patience, anger management skills, and teamwork, Mario Kart: Double Dash is among the IP’s most immersive. A radical change to traditional Mario Kart gameplay, yes, but I’d say it was for the better. Even with MK8D‘s online gameplay capabilities, Double Dash still comes out on top as the franchise’s best multiplayer entry.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (2017; Switch)
The Mario Kart franchise’s most recent entry (no, not Mario Kart World) is easily the top entry in franchise history. Like a “Greatest Hits” record, this title lovingly incorporates fan-favorite tracks, offbeat player characters, items, and other content from older releases, revitalizing them for a modern console and a new, younger audience. Masterfully drift past banana peels on your favorite “Rainbow Road” track from the ’90s, monitor your position using a more helpful live map, and traverse new arenas in the game’s ultra-challenging battle mode.
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A lifelong gamer raised on classic titles like Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, and Croc, Stephanie brings her expertise of gaming and pop culture to deliver unique, refreshing views on the world of video games, complete with references to absurd and obscure media.
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